Back into the fold! New 620S :)

[kalibre46]

Hi everyone,

I've not been here for a good couple of years as unfortunately I had to sell my toys to allow for more sensible stuff like new mortgages and having more children! Anyway, those boxes are now ticked and I've got a license from the better half to get back into a track (and road) toy. My old Supersport was great fun but ultimately not enough power for my liking, so this time I've decided to skip a few rungs and have just purchased a new 620S. I'm very excited to say the least, but I've also got a few questions for the experienced members of this forum.

I love my everyday driver (Tesla Model S) but I am intending to run the 620S on the road and in all weather types. I'm looking at purchasing a few bits and pieces and need some advice if possible:

1) I used SoftbitsforSevens quite a bit before. A lot of their gear is showing out of stock and they haven't replied to a recent email query, so I was wondering if they were still trading? Are they still the best place for things like tunnel bags, half-hoods etc?

2) Regarding the tunnel bag, my 620S has the heated carbon seats, but obviously the switches are just behind the gearstick and would be covered by a standard tunnel bag. Are there any other owners with the heated seats that have found a suitable alternative?

3) On my supersport I used a long-nosed shower cap when I was out and about. However, given the big air intake at the front of the 620S I wondered if I should be concerned about getting any rain in there and if anyone knew of a good (quick fitting) product to use showery weather?

4) I'm after a dust cover for indoors and also a full cover for outdoors. The official Caterham indoor cover looks nice but pricey at £200. Any suggested alternatives that are a good fit? Also, I can't remember if and outdoor full cover comes with the full-weather gear as standard or not?

5) Lastly, I've got the rear-exit (double silencer) exhaust because of noise limits for track days, however I'm tempted to get a side-exist spare for everyday use. Has anyone else done this on their 620S/R? Thoughts?

Many thanks, and apologies for the number of questions!

[autofocus]

Hi there,

Great news that you are going to be back in a Caterham.

Softbits for Sevens are still very much trading. I was speaking to them at Donington yesterday (at the Caterham 60th anniversary celebration). I was after a steering wheel bag, they told me that pretty much everything is made to order and as such even if it's showing as out of stock on their website you simply order it and they will make it and dispatch it to you.

Regards

Tim

[kalibre46]

autofocus said:

Hi there,

Great news that you are going to be back in a Caterham.

Softbits for Sevens are still very much trading. I was speaking to them at Donington yesterday (at the Caterham 60th anniversary celebration). I was after a steering wheel bag, they told me that pretty much everything is made to order and as such even if it's showing as out of stock on their website you simply order it and they will make it and dispatch it to you.

Regards

Tim

Thanks, great to hear, I loved their stuff previously so it would have been a shame if they were not still around.

[craig2003]

Welcome back in to a Caterham especially a 620!
I have changed my rear exit system on my 620R for the side exit version from Caterham themselves, the noise is incredible now with pops, bangs and the odd flame or two!
I bought an SBFS long nose shower cap for mine and it's fine for a night or two away, there is a couple of straps underneath that tighten it quite well so there is minimal flapping of loose cover.

Enjoy the driving 😀

[tvrted]

Sbfs were at the 60th celebration this weekend and were very busy. Always hard to contact, keep trying on phone.

[curley]

I have had my 620R for 3 years now .

The rain goes in the nose cone when you drive it in the rain , i wouldn't be bothered about covering it up .

The side exhaust is LOUD . I sold mine as i didn't bother using it .Its useless for track work and far too noisy for anything other than a short run on the road . Yes it attracts attention at the Festival of Speed but in the real world its not much use .

[kalibre46]

Thanks for the info everyone.

[downsman]

I've found Soft Bits respond much better to phone calls than e-mails too.

I made some bags that hang down each side of the tunnel, they are connected by webbing straps that run under the tunnel cover and connect to the straps with press studs to allow easy removal. I think I bought laptop power supply bags from Currys for £15 the pair.

[Canuck7]

Hi!
I had some beautiful custom tunnels bags and an amazing tonneau cover made for me by Lesley Storr Designs. Custom stitching and embroidery. You may want to see if she could make you a tunnel cover that will work with your heated seat switches.

http://l-s-d.co.uk/

[kalibre46]

Canuck7 said:

Hi!
I had some beautiful custom tunnels bags and an amazing tonneau cover made for me by Lesley Storr Designs. Custom stitching and embroidery. You may want to see if she could make you a tunnel cover that will work with your heated seat switches.

http://l-s-d.co.uk/

Thanks I'll check them out. I also need to be careful the the portion overlapping on the passenger side doesn't foul the battery box.

[Buds]

I have a 620S with heated seats on order too. I love the tunnel bag in my current 7 and contacted Oxted Trimming. They were brilliant, they contacted Caterham for the exact dimensions and locations of the heated seat buttons and made me a bespoke carbon effect tunnel bag with holes for the switches. They charged around £189 if memory serves my correctly.

The Caterham indoor cover is superb. Soft and durable.

I have opted for the side exhaust on my 620S. I have a R500 box and no cat on my 360R thats had the 220bhp upgrade. The noise is incredible and flames are an every day event. The rear exhaust looks a little low to my and I've heard of grounding problems although these may be few and far between. There are aftermarket solutions to quieten down the exhaust for track days.

You should get a free years membership to the Lotus 7 Club with your new car. You'll enjoy their friendly and helpful attitude. I've been a member for 2 years now and their knowledge has helped my out many a time.

My 360 R at night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFPiphv-7YM

Enjoy your new car.

Doug

[mpbcs]

Congrats on your purchase.. I recently bought a 620s too, and had terrible problems with grounding but needed a quietish side exhaust for track days. I went for a titanium non cat exhaust from raceco. The sound is better, but quiet enough for all trackdays, and i recon it saves at least 10kg over the rear exit exhaust. Can't be happier with the purchase and strongly recommend it! Have fun...

[griffchris]

Buds said:

I have a 620S with heated seats on order too. I love the tunnel bag in my current 7 and contacted Oxted Trimming. They were brilliant, they contacted Caterham for the exact dimensions and locations of the heated seat buttons and made me a bespoke carbon effect tunnel bag with holes for the switches. They charged around £189 if memory serves my correctly.

The Caterham indoor cover is superb. Soft and durable.

I have opted for the side exhaust on my 620S. I have a R500 box and no cat on my 360R thats had the 220bhp upgrade. The noise is incredible and flames are an every day event. The rear exhaust looks a little low to my and I've heard of grounding problems although these may be few and far between. There are aftermarket solutions to quieten down the exhaust for track days.

You should get a free years membership to the Lotus 7 Club with your new car. You'll enjoy their friendly and helpful attitude. I've been a member for 2 years now and their knowledge has helped my out many a time.

My 360 R at night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFPiphv-7YM

Enjoy your new car.

Doug

Fair play to you Doug, you and I exchanged a few emails a couple of years back (early 2015 I think), via the L7club, when you ordered your 360 and I ordered my 420R. I see you've experienced a severe dose of upgraditis since! Enjoy your new steed, I've been tempted by a 620R a couple of times, but I'm staying strong (for now)!
Cheers
Chris

OP, sorry for the thread hijack!

[kalibre46]

Buds said:

I have a 620S with heated seats on order too. I love the tunnel bag in my current 7 and contacted Oxted Trimming. They were brilliant, they contacted Caterham for the exact dimensions and locations of the heated seat buttons and made me a bespoke carbon effect tunnel bag with holes for the switches. They charged around £189 if memory serves my correctly.

The Caterham indoor cover is superb. Soft and durable.

I have opted for the side exhaust on my 620S. I have a R500 box and no cat on my 360R thats had the 220bhp upgrade. The noise is incredible and flames are an every day event. The rear exhaust looks a little low to my and I've heard of grounding problems although these may be few and far between. There are aftermarket solutions to quieten down the exhaust for track days.

You should get a free years membership to the Lotus 7 Club with your new car. You'll enjoy their friendly and helpful attitude. I've been a member for 2 years now and their knowledge has helped my out many a time.

My 360 R at night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFPiphv-7YM

Enjoy your new car.

Doug

Thanks for the info, great to know about the tunnel bag and exhaust options.

[kalibre46]

mpbcs said:

Congrats on your purchase.. I recently bought a 620s too, and had terrible problems with grounding but needed a quietish side exhaust for track days. I went for a titanium non cat exhaust from raceco. The sound is better, but quiet enough for all trackdays, and i recon it saves at least 10kg over the rear exit exhaust. Can't be happier with the purchase and strongly recommend it! Have fun...

I'm getting a bit worried about this grounding issue now I've heard it twice, how bad was it and when was it happening?

I'll check our the raceco exhausts, thanks.

[mpbcs]

Grounding was v v bad. On the road it would regularly hit the deck and make a thud. On track it wore the exhaust completely flat where it goes from the side underneath the car and even wore through the exhaust clamp. I think if I had run it for another 200 road miles or one track day it would have worn a hole in the pipe. Also watch rear pads.. I've done a set in 1200 miles and 3 trackdays.

[kalibre46]

mpbcs said:

Grounding was v v bad. On the road it would regularly hit the deck and make a thud. On track it wore the exhaust completely flat where it goes from the side underneath the car and even wore through the exhaust clamp. I think if I had run it for another 200 road miles or one track day it would have worn a hole in the pipe. Also watch rear pads.. I've done a set in 1200 miles and 3 trackdays.

Thanks for the heads up. There is a slight incline onto my drive that has been ok thus far with my cars, but it may be a challenge this time. I'll see how I get on, fingers crossed.

[craig2003]

Mine did ground quite a bit on the exhaust clamp joining the silencer to the pipe that run under the arch, so much so much so it had almost worn through.
The only track in Scotland is very flexible with noise thankfully but I will need to put the old one back on or get a Raceco for tracks south of the border.
I spoke to Mike at Raceco and a titanium version after polishing by a seperate company came in at around £800.

Here is mine with the side exit fitted.
https://youtu.be/_iCyouG_bZ8

[kalibre46]

craig2003 said:

Mine did ground quite a bit on the exhaust clamp joining the silencer to the pipe that run under the arch, so much so much so it had almost worn through.
The only track in Scotland is very flexible with noise thankfully but I will need to put the old one back on or get a Raceco for tracks south of the border.
I spoke to Mike at Raceco and a titanium version after polishing by a seperate company came in at around £800.

Here is mine with the side exit fitted.
https://youtu.be/_iCyouG_bZ8

I love Knockhill, tracked my Supersport there a couple of times and even on that I managed to sheer a passenger seat bolt at turn 3 because of grounding. That side exit sounds awesome but very loud. I'll see how I get on but keep the option in my pocket!

[curley]

Ive had my 620R now for 3 years and I've never had a grounding issue , either with the original Bilstien race dampers or the Penske ones now on the car .
I know Cc had issues with their 620S doing passenger rides on club track days but when they switched that car to the race dampers the problems went away .